Cassius Chaerea

Cassius Chaerea (died 41) was the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard of the Roman Empire from 38 to 41 after the arrest and execution of Naevius Sutorius Macro.

Biography
Cassius Chaerea served as a centurion in the army of the Roman general Germanicus during the campaign in Germania, showing his bravery and skill by subduing the 14 AD mutiny on the frontier after the death of Emperor Augustus. Readily taught, Chaerea was appointed the new commander of the Praetorian Guard by Caligula after he had Naevius Sutorius Macro arrested for the murder of Tiberius, and he became Caligula's right-hand man. However, he was alienated by Caligula's descent into madness towards the end of his reign, as Caligula announced his intention to destroy the Roman Senate; Caligula mandated that senators' wives should become prostitutes, and he desecrated Hellenic culture, took titles from the Roman elite, and planned a mock invasion of Britannia. Caligula's adviser Longinus persuaded Chaerea to kill Caligula in 41 AD, and he stabbed Caligula in the stomach after killing his wife and daughter. Caligula's successor Claudius had Chaerea sentenced to death for the murder, the only one of the assassins to face justice, and Chaerea was executed with his own sword.